October 06, 2015
KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS (Short Story Collection)

With Brush or Blade

Martina Pilcerova of Slovakia has become well known to Ice & Fire fans for her wonderful illustrations of the world of Westeros and its denizens. She's painted some beautiful covers for the German language limited editions, has become a mainstay for Fantasy Flight's collectible card game, and recently contributed some spectacular original pieces to The Art of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire. (Check out her website at http://www.martina.sk to see more of her artwork). Her painting of the Wall in the art book is one of my favorites... immense, breathtaking, chilly... Martina captured the Wall just as I see it in my mind's eye.

And no wonder! It turns out Lady Martina is secretly a Stark, and just as proficient with a blade as is she is with a paintbrush. Here's the proof from a recent Czech convention. The direwolf has seldom looked so dashing... and I have a sneaking suspicion that may be Lannister blood on the blade.